Stitching Things Up

Lots going on in the sewing room.  I started with the pile of Memory Lane blocks hogging the end of the cutting table. Pattern by Ellen Replogle from her book Laps From Fats for Family and Friend, 2006.

They went together easily as there are no seams to match at this point. I plan to finish all the rows today, but did not feel like working on them last night.  Instead I played in the leftover blocks and pieces drawer.

That was fun!  Another Plaidish2 block was partially assembled as well.  None of these are pressed as I was too lazy to get the ironing board out for this late night play. 

My leader-ender blocks also didn't get pressed.  I'm  down to just a few more of these Adam's Ribs block pieces; maybe they will last through completing the Memory Lane top. 

After my manicure appointment yesterday, I took a turn through my local fabric store.  These remnants jumped into my hands!  Some good chunks there for less than the cost of a fat quarter. The black and white yardage was also discounted 30% so I got a yard and a half.  I liked that is non-directional.  Ok, off to get some sewing done before grandsons' ball games. 

Design Wall Monday--Memory Lane Blocks Finished

 Design Wall Monday-- See more Design Walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts blog. 

I pushed to get all the Memory Lane blocks finished over the weekend.  

This one turned out really pretty.   There was a proud moment that turned comical with another block. 

How I didn't notice all the mistakes until the block was completely finished was pretty ridiculous!  I had to disassemble nearly the entire block to put it right.  

My leader-ender project also had an oops. 

That was fast to fix, just one seam.  There were lots of these Adam's Rib blocks finished over the weekend. 

I have another nice pile of cut pieces to work on when I assemble the Memory Lane rows. I played thread chicken with the last Memory Lane block.

Layout and switcheroo of these blocks was hard, since there are 5 fabrics in each block in different positions. 

There was another session after this layout. Finally I called it quits

I look forward to getting this top together--the Oh My Darling fabric collection has waited years to get this far! 

Memory Lane Figuring for the Finish Line

The Memory Lane Quilt blocks are getting closer to the finish line.  I completed two more blocks and need only 7 more to get to 20. The pattern calls for 5 fabrics in each block and I needed to make some notes to avoid repeat combinations of colors. 

I have started each block layout by choosing colors for the chain squares, then adding the strips in their position either as the center or corners. I jotted down the combos done so far, then paired up the remaining chain square pieces, avoiding repeats. 

The red and cream print still had two squares to use up, but looking at my photo, I did a double with the blue floral/stripe--that won't do!  There will be a short round of switcheroo again.  Glad I caught that. 

I caught the moonrise last week lighting up the palm tree and some clouds.  We are getting some much needed rain as I type this post, hope it soaks in deep!

Design Wall Monday--April 18

 Design Wall Monday--see more Design Walls at Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts blog. 

I did not spent much time at my machine the past week, so only a few new blocks to show. 

Memory Lane block laid out.  The folds in the cream print were ironed before assembly.  I have not gotten any faster at sewing these large blocks--I have to check the placement and sewing order in the book every time! This pattern is in a Laps from Fats book, by Ellen Replogle.  

I really liked how this one turned out--and at the 11th block finished, it signaled the home turn for the 20 blocks needed for the quilt top.  This is a no borders quilt so once switcheroo and sewing all the blocks together is complete, it will be a finished top. 

Another Plaidish2 block done as a leader ender. I might need to change the row 2 end rectangle on the far right, it is really too dark to be a medium.  I can probably just use the backside!  Lots more piecing in my future.  I need to prep another quilt top for quilting at home, and really want to send out another to the long-armer.  

Design Wall Monday--Gingham Quilt Finish

Design Wall Monday--See more design walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts blog--always great variety to enjoy there. 

The Buffalo Check Gingham quilt that has been layered and waiting to be quilted for a couple of weeks finally got its turn over the weekend.  Walking foot quilting all the way!

Ditch stitching along all sides of the pieced squares. 

I was pleased that my pieced-from-stash backing did not get skewed too much so the quilting looks straight. 

For the borders, I drew/scored lines from the corners every two squares and again used the walking foot to do the quilting. The spacing is not the same at the top and bottom, as the quilt is a rectangle, but I am not too fussed about it. 

The vintage gingham fabric made into bias binding turned out great. I trimmed the quilt first and added the binding to the back so I could stitch it down from the front by machine. I had the hardest time joining the bias ends before doing that part!  It took me about 20 minutes and multiple ripping, measuring, and trials to get it right.

I'm calling this a picnic sized quilt.  Happy to have another finish to check off on the long list of WIPs :)  The Buffalo Check kit I bought at Sewtopia Boston in 2018, and the border fabric came from my local  JoAnn's Fabrics.  

Slow Sunday Stitching--New Start and Easter Decor

 Slow Sunday Stitching--see more projects on Kathy's Quilts blog. 

I made a very lazy decision on my next cross stitch project--it was already in the tote I use for portable projects! This is another $6.00 DMC kit I bought at my local fabric store. 

The kits have this nice large graph.  I like to color mine with pencils. The embroidery thread comes already on the card and the kit includes a hoop, needle and of course Aida cloth.  All you need are scissors!. I marked the center of mine with contrasting thread to help keep me lined up.  Starting in the center is best for me, though I have seen lots of folks start with a border design if included in the chart.  

I never noticed until I took the pictures that this was called Winter Bouquet.  It looks more Spring to me!

Some Spring/Easter decor got arranged on the sideboard.  I made that Easter card many decades ago and got it back after my MIL passed away.  She saved it all that time! The bunny and bow are cut from fabric. 

Another card made by a family friend, and my favorite glass eggs and bunny.

More bunnies in the vase with an egg tree :)

Some more favorites on top of the lawyer's bookcase--I bought the mini quilt years ago at a guild sale.  Glad the nearly 100 degree temps are gone and our usual low clouds and fog have returned.  Happy Spring!

Design Wall Monday--4/4/2022 Memory Lane progress

 Design Wall Monday--see more design walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts blog. 

I've made a few more large blocks for the Memory Lane quilt.  Each block has five fabrics making up the center, corners and square chains. 

These 16" finished blocks are a bit of a puzzle to put together.  I have to double check the directions for layout and pressing each time.  I made myself a cheat sheet to keep track of the layouts,  as some pieces are used twice for the various positions in the blocks. I am concentrating on using the large squares one time apiece before duplicating!  Having a great time with this puzzle. 

Slow Stitching Sunday--April 3

 Slow Sunday Stitching--see more great handwork on Kathy's Quilts blog.

I haven't been doing any slow stitching, as I can't make up my mind what I want to stitch yet--not a terrible problem to have :)   I showed some older cross-stitch pieces that I am going to add to the Bookshelf Quilt I am making for my niece, Emma. Adding a fabric frame was the job at hand.   I started with the cherries. I finished this one in April 2018 and finished it in the cheap plastic frame that came with the kit, which was black.  

I decided to use a narrow black border of fabric and then found a silver accented fat quarter in stash to use as a wider frame. 

The silver is a Carolyn Friedlander print I picked up at Sewtopia Orlando after her lecture.  I left the frame wide for finishing  width options in the bookshelf quilt. 

Next was a much older cross-stitch project of Southwest cacti. I chose one of the four different cacti and trimmed it to one inch past the stitching boundary.  Due to an over-enthusiastic trimming episode, I had a "design opportunity" for the fabric frame--hence the dotted squares in the corners. 

I like it!  I'll decide if I want to add another cacti later. I chose shelf fabric in a solid brown and the bookshelf  background is black, so the gray frame will hopefully show up well.  I can always add another narrow border in a contrasting fabric. 

From my stitching past, I used an old sampler to test the new-to-me hanger from the thrift shop.

This was the first cross-stitch I ever did--my Godmother gave a kit to me lo those many years ago.  I had the kit for years before stitching it in my late teens. It was mounted on a sticky board for decades, which I have removed.  Perhaps I will lace the piece onto something else, but I actually like it deconstructed too!